March 19, 2011
FULLERTON, CA - Texas sophomore Blaire Luna allowed just one hit while striking out 10 and Taylor Thom finished with a home run and three RBI Saturday afternoon, lifting the No. 12 Longhorns to a 5-0 shutout of host Cal State Fullerton on day four of the 2011 Judi Garman Classic at Anderson Family Field.
The loss dropped the Titans to 8-14 overall and 1-3 in tournament play as Fullerton has been held to just seven hits in its last three games after erupting for a season-high 14 hits in its tournament opener against Notre Dame.
Texas improved to 23-3 overall and remained unbeaten at 4-0 in tournament play.
On a day when the Titans' 1986 NCAA National Championship squad (featuring both Fullerton head coach Michelle Gromacki and Texas head coach Connie Clark) was honored prior to first pitch, Luna (14-2) almost stole the show, retiring eight consecutive batters at one point -- six via strikeout -- and allowed only three base runners on a pair of walks and an infield bunt single by freshman Leesa Harris in the third.
It was the first hit allowed by Luna in two starts during the tournament following her five-inning perfect game against No. 4 Washington on March 17.
Senior Ari Cervantes (7-8) was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out three in the complete-game effort.
A sacrifice fly by Thom in the second got the scoring started for the Longhorns, who added another single run in the third on an RBI single by Torie Schmidt for the 2-0 lead.
Thom's home run following a walk to Raygan Feight in the fourth extended the lead and Texas capped the scoring on a solo home run to left by Lexy Bennett in the seventh.
Cal State Fullerton will look to bookend its three tournament losses with a victory on Sunday afternoon (March 20) as the Titans take on Boise State at 3:30 p.m.